Welcome to the web home of the Missouri Bead Retreat (MBR)! Our mission is to bring together glass artists from all over the midwest (and beyond) for a weekend of relaxation, learning, networking and most importantly....fun! Our artists specialize in hand-creating glass beads, marbles, sculptures, ornaments and more using colorful rods of glass and a flame (known as lampworking or flameworking).

MBR History
In the early months of 2005, a couple of lampworkers from opposite sides of Missouri thought it would be fun to organize a camping trip for Missouri glass artists. While searching for a location, concerns started to grow about camping outdoors, and how it could potentially limit who attended. One of the "organizers" remembered a resort where her family used to have their family reunions. It was nice, relatively inexpensive, air conditioned, could accommodate a large number of people, and best of all.... there were covered decks where torches could be set up! After placing a few calls to the resort, reservations were made and the first annual Missouri Bead Retreat was born!

The retreat is always scheduled the weekend BEFORE Memorial Day and goes from Friday through Monday. Artists come from a number of states including: Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Michigan, Kentucky, Arkansas and Illinois.

If you're a guest at the Alhonna Resort during our retreat weekend, please feel free to stop by! We love to inform people about our medium and to give lots of demonstrations!

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Calling all Glass Artists!
Are you a glass artist and would like to attend the next Missouri Bead Retreat? If so, get more information about the retreat by requesting to join this site. The Missouri Bead Retreat is a great way for experienced and amateur flameworkers to hang out, learn different flameworking techniques and have fun doing it! Not only can you torch 24/7; there are a variety of classes each year including: bead caps, chain mail, fusing and even knitting! There is truly something for everyone!

Mu Beta Rho Rocks!!!
"Mu Beta Rho" is the unofficial greek name for our "chapter". The first letters in Missouri Bead Retreat are represented by Mu Beta Rho and denoted by the greek letters MBP (yes...that's a "P". Rho is a P in the Greek alphabet). :)